Manual Downshift to 4th Very Abrupt

[Uzi1]

Bought a 2012 R Spec sedan with 45,000 miles. I occasionally manually shift the transmission in Sports Mode, noticed downshifting to 4th is quite abrupt--at all speeds. I asked the dealer to check it when I had the front parking sensors replaced under warranty.

Service tech said the abrupt shift is caused by torque converter coming out of lock. I'm not so sure, it behaves the same between 20 and 30 mph; at what speed does torque converter un-lock? All other manual downshifts are smooth; in Drive all up shifts and downshifts are smooth.

Has any one noticed this issue? Is it normal operation of the transmission? It seems strange behavior in a quiet, luxury sedan. Let me know what you have experienced. Thanks

 

[Uzi1]

Does anyone use Sports Mode? If you do is downshifting to 4 smooth or harsh?
Thanks.

 

[FastDEW1]

I don't know what you mean by sport mode? There is no sport mode in my 2014 R-Spec. If you mean just simply using manual shift - I rarely use it because the transmission is lazy and the manual shift doesn't respond very fast. It is slow to shift based on manual input so why bother.... I have used it for engine breaking down grades and never noticed any harshness whatsoever.